Booking reference and ticket number relationship - QF gift vouchers

[medhead]

Perhaps this belongs in the Qf area, but it's also a discussion. I've noticed an interesting event with my latest QF gift voucher redemption. Redeemed the gift voucher for a flight, a couple of days later My Flights advises me there has been a change to the booking. Lo and behold the change is the issuing of a new ticket number with an issue date the same as the date that I booked the flights. I have never seen this before, and I always add the booking reference to My Flights within minutes of redeeming gift vouchers.

Anyway, I was wondering about the relationship between ticket number and booking reference. I guess they are related but different? Could a booking have multiple changing ticket numbers? but not vice versa? or could a ticket number also have multiple booking references?

I notice that on some of my SQ bookings each pax has their own ticket number.

 

[Quickstatus]

Perhaps this belongs in the Qf area, but it's also a discussion. I've noticed an interesting event with my latest QF gift voucher redemption. Redeemed the gift voucher for a flight, a couple of days later My Flights advises me there has been a change to the booking. Lo and behold the change is the issuing of a new ticket number with an issue date the same as the date that I booked the flights. I have never seen this before, and I always add the booking reference to My Flights within minutes of redeeming gift vouchers.

Anyway, I was wondering about the relationship between ticket number and booking reference. I guess they are related but different? Could a booking have multiple changing ticket numbers? but not vice versa? or could a ticket number also have multiple booking references?

I notice that on some of my SQ bookings each pax has their own ticket number.

The booking reference does not change. Within the booking reference, the airline adds ticket(s) each with its own ticket number. The airline can change and reissue tickets within the booking reference thus causing ticket numbers to change. The booking reference does not change and is your PNR - "passenger name record", and is how the airline finds your reservation. Just think of the booking reference/PNR as the folder. The folder contains the tickets for the passengers within the folder.

As with any folder, it is possible to add tickets at different times to the folder. However I have not been able to get Qantas to add additional tickets to the collection of existing tickets within the PNR, unlike a TA originated PNR. Say a QF gift voucher has a PNR xx_xx_ and then I buy a ticket SYD-MEL. 2 months later I want to add MEL-SYD. A TA created PNr will allow this but QF does not.

A booking reference (PNR) can have multiple tickets which may change over time.

A ticket cannot have more than 1 PNR - within the same issuing airline. However if a PNR has tickets with different carriers, each carrier may have its own PNR related to your ticket. (I think)

A booking reference may have more than one passenger, however each passenger has a unique ticket number within that PNR

 

[medhead]

As with any folder, it is possible to add tickets at different times to the folder. However I have not been able to get Qantas to add additional tickets to the collection of existing tickets within the PNR, unlike a TA originated PNR. Say a QF gift voucher has a PNR xx_xx_ and then I buy a ticket SYD-MEL. 2 months later I want to add MEL-SYD. A TA created PNr will allow this but QF does not.

Note I've never seen this before over at least 100 QF gift vouchers. In this case the original gift voucher was redeemed for the first time to add a simple one way flight. A short time later I received notification of a change to the PNR, the old ticket number (081-245xx_X) was removed and a new ticket number added (081-246xx_x). Date of original ticket matched date of voucher purchase. New ticket matched date of flight booking. residual voucher was issued with a different ticket number again.

not a case of having more than one ticket number, or adding a ticket number. More like a replacement. Thanks for the explanation.

 

[serfty]

I generally get one (or more if > 1pax) new ticket number(s) if a ticket is re-issued (as distinct from re-validated).

AA generally re-issue (as an "Exchange") for any changes while QF not so much.

 

[serfty]

Was there a ticket number originally associated with the gift voucher PNR?

It is possible for a PNR to not have a ticket number (although in such a state you are unlikely to be flying on it).

 

[medhead]

Was there a ticket number originally associated with the gift voucher PNR?

It is possible for a PNR to not have a ticket number (although in such a state you are unlikely to be flying on it).

I'm assuming yes, but can't check for certain as the gift voucher was emailed without receipt. I checked the old ticket number using saudi airlines and the issue date matches the voucher purchase date. Hence my assumption.
As a gift voucher without flights not having a ticket number shouldn't be a problem, i guess.

 

[medhead]

I'm not really sure what is happening with these vouchers now. Have been waiting since 26 June for residual gift vouchers to issue. Just called Qantas to ask about it. Turns out that the residuals have issued, one of them in someone else's name. At that point they need to investigate further and are going to call back.
Not promising.

Edit: phone call received. Deep investigation required. Apparently the residual voucher in the wrong name was voided.

 

[Princess Fiona]

Very OT but how long does it take to ticket bookings made via a voucher?
I made two separate bookings on Friday for the same flights, one direct and one with a voucher. The direct booking was charged and ticketed immediately. The voucher booking remains confirmed but not yet ticketed. Flights are in a couple of weeks.

 

[medhead]

Very OT but how long does it take to ticket bookings made via a voucher?
I made two separate bookings on Friday for the same flights, one direct and one with a voucher. The direct booking was charged and ticketed immediately. The voucher booking remains confirmed but not yet ticketed. Flights are in a couple of weeks.

Normally, it's very quick - same as direct booking. I'd suggest calling. I'm still waiting for a residual to issue that they were investigating, from the two I mentioned earlier in thread. Follow up saw the missing one issue very quickly. But the other where the residual was issued to someone else and then cancelled is still missing.

I reckon they've done something to the system, consequently breaking something. Definitely call.

 

[Princess Fiona]

Normally, it's very quick - same as direct booking. I'd suggest calling. I'm still waiting for a residual to issue that they were investigating, from the two I mentioned earlier in thread. Follow up saw the missing one issue very quickly. But the other where the residual was issued to someone else and then cancelled is still missing.

I reckon they've done something to the system, consequently breaking something. Definitely call.

Thanks I'll call up on Monday if my voice returns (laryngitis).

 

[Pushka]

Very OT but how long does it take to ticket bookings made via a voucher?
I made two separate bookings on Friday for the same flights, one direct and one with a voucher. The direct booking was charged and ticketed immediately. The voucher booking remains confirmed but not yet ticketed. Flights are in a couple of weeks.

I had to call recently. They are taking around 24 hours and sometimes they get stuck.

 

[Princess Fiona]

I had to call recently. They are taking around 24 hours and sometimes they get stuck.

Thanks Pushka, I think that mine is stuck somewhere. I'll definitely call.

 

[Pushka]

Thanks Pushka, I think that mine is stuck somewhere. I'll definitely call.

Yes - the QFF people know there is an issue and seem to be able to sort it quickly. But you might find it also sorts itself. If you can get into the booking, see if you can send a tax invoice as that is basically the ticket.

 

[MrHyde]

I recently made a booking using a voucher about 6 weeks ago. Provided the cc details and everything at the time of the booking. My cc was not charged till the day of the flight. I've seen this happen a number of times where Qantas do not charge my CC till the day of the flight. This really causes me problems as I suddenly see a charge on the card that I was expecting 6-8 weeks earlier and because I'm now in a different billing cycle, it throws out my limits.

 

[medhead]

Called to follow up my missing residual voucher last week. Apparently, the booked flights on the original gift voucher hadn't been ticketed. That's happened now.
Qantas are definitely changing the ticket number and hence date associated with the booking. (Just want to thank all those people who made this get "fixed" NOT!)
Still waiting for the residual gift voucher to issue. I'm sure another phone call will be required as this is the residual that I was initially told was issued in a completely different name.

 

[junbugging]

Thanks Pushka, I think that mine is stuck somewhere. I'll definitely call.

I have a couple stuck at the moment, too.